TRUMP-TAIWAN TALK LEAVES CHINA FUMING

President-elect takes to Twitter to defend his move

New York, Dec. 3: President-elect Donald Trump has broken with decades of US diplomatic policy and spoke with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, at the risk of provoking a serious rift with China.

“During the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security ties” between Taiwan and the United States, Mr Trump’s office announced in a read-out of the call.

“President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year,” it said.

It was not immediately clear which side initiated the telephone call, one of several Mr Trump has been making with world leaders since his election victory, or if it signals a policy shift.

Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has adamantly opposed the attempts of any country to carry on official relations with it.

Washington cut formal diplomatic relations with the island in 1979 and recognises Beijing as the sole government of “One China” — while keeping friendly non-official ties with Taipei.

The White House was not told about Mr Trump’s call until after it happened, according to a senior administration official. But afterward, the Chinese government contacted the White House to discuss the matter, according to the New York Times.

The longer-term fallout from the Trump-Tsai conversation could be significant, the administration official said, noting that the Chinese government had issued a bitter protest after the U.S. sold weapons to Taiwan as part of a well-established arms agreement grudgingly accepted by Beijing. CHINA FURIOUS Meanwhile, China protested to Washington on Saturday after Mr Trump spoke with the president of Taiwan. “We have already made solemn representations about it to the relevant US side,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.

“It must be pointed out that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”

China also urged “relevant parties in the US... to handle Taiwan-related issues with caution and care to avoid unnecessarily interfering.”

Mr Trump, who had come under fire for the telephone call, hit back on Twitter. “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call,” he tweeted.